LAHORE, April 26: The Punjab Revenue and Relief Department has declared 166 villages in Attock and 27 villages in Dera Ghazi Khan calamity-hit because of heavy rains, says a handout. Punjab Revenue Minister Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri said on Tuesday the farmers of affected villages had been exempted from the payment of abiana (water cess), and agriculture tax.

He said necessary instructions had been issued to the banks to further release loans for the new crop and delay the recovery of the pending loans.

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